Men admit Gloucester mosque arson

Clive Michael Ceronne, 37, and Ashley Henry Juggins, 20, both pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The pair attempted to set fire to the Masjid-E-Noor in the city’s Ryecroft Street on June 18 this year.

Ceronne, a former security guard of Redwood Close, in Gloucester and Juggins, of Brooklyn Road in Cheltenham will be sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on November 18.

The court previously heard the pair had bought lager, vodka and a petrol can of fuel from a London Road garage before using the fuel to set fire to the place of worship by owned by the Muslim Welfare Association.

A passer-by saw the fire and helped put it out, before severe damage was caused.

The attack came in the wake of the death of Drummer Lee Rigby.

The pair both denied a more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

Prosecutor Peter Combe said this was acceptable to the crown when Juggins appeared via video link and Ceronne in the dock.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC ordered a pre-sentence report on the pair prior to their return to the same court next month.

He said: “You have both pleaded guilty to a very serious offence.

“I will however order a pre-sentence report, but I make it quite plain I am certainly not tying the hands of myself or anyone else by doing so.”